Volunteer Role Description: Pitt Rivers Museum Tour Guide

Volunteer Role Description: Sunday Family Friendly Volunteers at the Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum

About Sunday Family Friendly Sessions

Every Sunday afternoon, 2 - 4 pm, families can borrow explorer backpacks, try a simple make-and-take craft, choose from a range of colouring sheets and trails, and investigate objects in a set of sorting boxes. These busy sessions are delivered by warm and friendly volunteers who welcome family visitors, explain the range of activities on offer, and help them to participate.

·  The session is usually run by two volunteers.

·  Volunteers set up under the dinosaurs from 1.45 pm and then pack away at 4 pm. Front of House staff members are on hand to help with furniture.

·  Volunteers explain and loan out backpacks to families using a sign-out sheet and, when possible, quickly check the contents when they are returned. Part of the volunteers’ responsibility is explaining that the backpacks are for borrowing not taking.

·  Volunteers explain a simple make-and-take craft activity, as well as a range of other activities. They may have to help those with less dexterity or confidence to complete certain tasks.

·  These sessions are currently advertised on the museum websites and in the Joint Museums Family Friendly Leaflet.

·  The team is coordinated by an Education Officer at the Museum of Natural History, and is facilitated on the day by front of house staff.

Commitment

Volunteers are recruited and trained for this role periodically. Once they have joined the team, they can expect to help with a session, on average, once every 4 - 6 weeks – although the rota is flexible.

About Sunday Family Friendly Volunteers

·  Volunteers will not be directly supervised by staff (although there will always be front of house staff nearby) and will therefore need to be DBS checked. If you have any queries or concerns about this, then please contact the Volunteer Service. This also means that the role is not open to young volunteers (i.e. 16 and 17 year olds).

·  Enthusiasm for the collections is more important than expertise.

·  You will enjoy and be confident in interacting with a family audience. We will support you in this as you get started.

·  This role does require moving heavy trolleys through the Museum, so you will need to be reasonably physically fit.

·  You will demonstrate a sense of responsibility for ensuring that resources are well managed.

Training

Prior to joining the team, volunteers attend a training session: usually 2 - 4 pm on a Sunday. The session is designed to familiarise volunteers with the activities and with their responsibilities when explaining and handing them out.

Why you might enjoy this role

The opportunity to:

·  join a friendly, enthusiastic, and supportive team of volunteers, with a greater responsibility than many other family friendly roles

·  interact with the general public and inspire family visitors

·  contribute to the museums’ public education and accessibility remit

·  improve your knowledge of the collections